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FOXBORO - The big concern before the start of the New England Patriots' first home preseason game, for fans at least, had nothing to do with football.

With major construction on Interstate 495 at Route 1, Friday commuter traffic and summer vacation traffic, a rearrangement of the parking lots at Gillette and a newly-built median on Route 1, fans were advised to factor heavy traffic into their plans.

As it turns out, however, traffic jams were the least of many fans' concerns. Many members of Patriot Nation said traffic en route to Gillette Stadium on Friday was "not really that bad," an impression confirmed by Foxboro police, and they were able to focus on what they really came for-tailgating, and a taste of Patriots football.

Clarissa Garvey, 41, made the two-and-a-half hour drive to see the Patriots take on the Tennessee Titans with her husband David Garvey, 48, from Chatham, N.Y., with less traffic than expected, she said.

As for why the Garveys are Patriots fans, it comes down to geography. Clarissa Garvey is a native of Belmont, and David Garvey has always been a Patriots fan because Chatham, his hometown, is on the Massachusetts border. That helped when marriage came into the picture. "My father is a die-hard Patriots fan, so it all fit in well," Clarissa Garvey said.

The Patriots seem to have attracted several fans from other football universes, including Texas.

Jermaine Robinson, 35, of Woonsocket, R.I., is admittedly a Dallas Cowboys fan, but says he's slowly being converted to the local team.

"They're starting to rub off on me," he said while tailgating with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Maribel Lopez of Woonsocket, before heading to their club seats Friday night. "I come every year, so I'm starting to get that little itchy feeling."

The dual loyalty has created some problems with Robinson's friends. In fact, he was spotted wearing a Patriots hat last year by his good friend, also a Cowboys fan, and suffered the consequences.

"He harassed me because I was wearing a Pats hat," he said. "But I was trying to blend in with the crowd, you know, and get some of that Patriots fever."

Fever might approximate the intensity of Patriots' fans outlook on the upcoming season. Bob Tavares, 41, of Tiverton, R.I., said with all the additions the Patriots have made in the offseason-including star wide receiver Randy Moss - it's obvious the team is laying it all on the line.

"This season is the year they're going for broke," said Tavares, who hasn't missed a home preseason game in four years. "You can tell. They're going for broke, it's Super Bowl or bust."

Tavares and friends Mike Labo, 29, of Tiverton and Mike Kelly, 60, of Portsmouth, R.I., are all "die-hard fans" who arrived at Gillette Stadium at 4 p.m. with their Patriots jerseys, fold-out table and large container full of supplies ready to go. They said traffic wasn't a problem, but forgetting utensils was. Luckily, they borrowed some from a fellow pack of tailgaters.

Another early arrival was Joe Dattoli, 27, of Woburn, who came with his girlfiend and "about 10" of his friends and encountered little traffic. "I come to every game, so we always know to come early," said Dattoli, who was wearing his father's Laurence Maroney jersey because the authentic Randy Moss jersey he ordered hasn't arrived yet. "First in, first out, that's my motto. The earlier you get here, the earlier you leave. And we have the most fun."

It's not unusual for fans of a team that has enjoyed past success to be optimistic about the team's chances in the future, but Dattoli is going so far as to predict a 16-1 season.

"It's definitely the best offense they've had probably in the last four or five years," Dattoli said. "They're putting the best team on the field out of any Super Bowl team they've had. They just have to keep their heads on straight."

Mike Kelly, one of the 4 p.m. tailgater arrivals, expects a similar outcome

"Make your reservations for the Super Bowl early," Kelly said. "I told the minutemen to buy plenty of gunpowder - we're going to need it this year."